About LucasBio | LUCASBIO

Seok-Goo Cho, M.D., Ph.D. is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LucasBio and Professor of Hematology at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea.


A physician-scientist with more than two decades of experience in hematology, immunology, and regenerative medicine, Dr. Cho has dedicated his career to advancing cell-based therapies for patients with hematologic malignancies and severe viral infections and other diseases with significant unmet medical needs. His research has contributed to the fields of lymphoma, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, immune cell therapy, and translational medicine, earning national and international recognition.


Alongside his role at LucasBio, Dr. Cho continues to serve as Professor of Hematology at The Catholic University of Korea. He has previously held several academic and research leadership positions, including Director of the Translational Medicine Molecular Imaging Institute, the Research Business Foundation, and the Catholic Institute of Medical Science. Drawing on his experience in academic research, clinical medicine, and translational science, he leads LucasBio's scientific vision, clinical development, and strategic direction, guiding the translation of scientific discoveries into therapies for patients.

Keon-Il Im, Ph.D. is the Research Director of LucasBio. He received his Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbiology from The Catholic University of Korea, where he trained under Dr. Seok-Goo Cho.

Before joining LucasBio, Dr. Im served as Chief Research Scientist at the Institute for Translational Research and Molecular Imaging, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, and as Research Professor at the Convergent Research Consortium for Immunologic Disease at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. Throughout his academic career, he has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, secured intellectual property through multiple patent applications, contributed to technology transfer initiatives, and led government- and industry-funded research projects.

At LucasBio, Dr. Im oversees translational research from preclinical discovery through nonclinical evaluation while directing the company's GCLP Central Laboratory. His work focuses on establishing the scientific rationale and preclinical evidence that support the development of LucasBio's cell therapy programs and enable their successful translation into clinical development.

Nayoun Kim, Ph.D. is Head of Clinical Development at LucasBio. She received her Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbiology from The Catholic University of Korea, where she trained under the mentorship of Dr. Seok-Goo Cho.

Prior to joining LucasBio, Dr. Kim served as Research Professor at the Institute for Translational Research and Molecular Imaging, The Catholic University of Korea. Throughout her academic and clinical research career, she has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications, intellectual property development, technology transfer, and government-funded research programs. She has also played a key role in obtaining regulatory approvals and overseeing the GMP manufacturing of multiple investigator-initiated cell therapy products.

At LucasBio, Dr. Kim provides strategic leadership across clinical development, regulatory affairs, and GMP manufacturing. She oversees interactions with regulatory authorities and clinical investigators while directing the planning and execution of clinical development programs. By integrating regulatory strategy, clinical operations, and manufacturing, she ensures the seamless translation of LucasBio's cell therapy products from development to clinical application.